It happens often enough. Your favorite team misses the coveted playoffs and you know exactly what needs to be done to ensure that this doesn't happen again. It is an action out of desperation.
We see crisis we react but so often we react in such a way as to potentially cause more harm than good. When we are desperate we tend to think irrationally. Out of desperation, thoughtless actions are formed and retained which can become destructive habits. Ironically, it is because of desperation we remain in a helpless state even when trying to produce the exact opposite state of being. But being desperate is not entirely a bad thing.
What really brings about this overwhelming sense of desperation in the first place? Certainly when the clock is ticking too close to a deadline there is a sense of panic. When we encounter crisis we tend to take on a feeling of independence. We feel like we are in a place of having to handle things on our own.
It is in this moment that the enemy loves to confuse us and our greater purpose. Our adversary wants us handling every event, circumstance, crisis, or situation with a mindset of independence. God, however, counts on inter-dependence.
1 John 5:4-5
To depend on God is to operate in faith. The trials and testings that occur, whether self inflicted or not, will always bring us to this crucial point of trusting God on a deeper level.
Trust God, He is so worth it.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The Impact of Worship
Morocco was such a thrill. I love teaching and training musicians in worship and ministering to people through fellowship. I give and I receive so much at the same time. This year's trip was not as long as the previous time I had been. Nevertheless the images and scenery will always remain with me.
It amazes me how much building is going on in and around Casablanca. Housing developments, malls, theme parks, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and more housing, and yet, the average monthly income for someone who works in these malls is around $300. Who is paying for all this development? These malls are full of the high end merchandise. Some of these retail associates never leave from behind the counter because NO ONE goes in the store...no one can afford that stuff.
Not having enough can seriously influence how we live our lives. There is so much to have. David, in Psalm 4:6-7 says:
Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day...
This really is how many of us feel but certainly do not actually live. I want you to watch what happens when people worship; what kind of an impact it has on people's lives. These people are among the many who don't have much but they do know who they belong to, and that gets them excited.
Just a quick note, there was a young Moroccan woman who had a curiosity to see how Christians worship. She is not allowed to go to church so to get around the issue of attending on a Sunday morning, she attended this "Night of Worship," with a friend. She was truly touched.
It amazes me how much building is going on in and around Casablanca. Housing developments, malls, theme parks, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and more housing, and yet, the average monthly income for someone who works in these malls is around $300. Who is paying for all this development? These malls are full of the high end merchandise. Some of these retail associates never leave from behind the counter because NO ONE goes in the store...no one can afford that stuff.
Not having enough can seriously influence how we live our lives. There is so much to have. David, in Psalm 4:6-7 says:
Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day...
This really is how many of us feel but certainly do not actually live. I want you to watch what happens when people worship; what kind of an impact it has on people's lives. These people are among the many who don't have much but they do know who they belong to, and that gets them excited.
Just a quick note, there was a young Moroccan woman who had a curiosity to see how Christians worship. She is not allowed to go to church so to get around the issue of attending on a Sunday morning, she attended this "Night of Worship," with a friend. She was truly touched.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Ripples Conference
Europe is known for movements. Some of the worlds sizable shifts, within the church, happened and began on the stage that Europe has set. Today Europe still holds the memories and is still producing a lasting fruit of what God did even centuries ago.
Masters Commission Europe celebrated their ten year anniversary this past week. It was revered within the annual conference, held in Brussels Belgium, the heart of the European Union. Testimony after testimony could be heard as it echoed the theme of this years gathering, Ripples. So many lives have been transformed by the endeavors and intentional pursuit of God’s calling. It is apparent that God still uses small encounters, like we read in the scriptures, for a global impact. Most of us don’t even see or feel the magnitude of the impact.
Masters Commission Europe has seen 700 students go through 22 programs in 17 different nations. That is what this gathering was about...recognizing the profound impact that one life can make by taking the chance to be different.
It is truly an honor for me to direct The Summons in the midst of this network. I believe what separates these programs from many other training schools is the focus and attention that is paid for the long-term impact by living life together in community; facing “life” as a group of people committed to one another. This is astounding, this is transforming, this is the church that the Holy Spirit intended to see release God’s Kingdom on the earth.
Please watch this video.
Masters Commission Europe celebrated their ten year anniversary this past week. It was revered within the annual conference, held in Brussels Belgium, the heart of the European Union. Testimony after testimony could be heard as it echoed the theme of this years gathering, Ripples. So many lives have been transformed by the endeavors and intentional pursuit of God’s calling. It is apparent that God still uses small encounters, like we read in the scriptures, for a global impact. Most of us don’t even see or feel the magnitude of the impact.
Masters Commission Europe has seen 700 students go through 22 programs in 17 different nations. That is what this gathering was about...recognizing the profound impact that one life can make by taking the chance to be different.
It is truly an honor for me to direct The Summons in the midst of this network. I believe what separates these programs from many other training schools is the focus and attention that is paid for the long-term impact by living life together in community; facing “life” as a group of people committed to one another. This is astounding, this is transforming, this is the church that the Holy Spirit intended to see release God’s Kingdom on the earth.
Please watch this video.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
they don't love you like i love you
the first place we read jesus discussing love is concerning loving those who are your enemies in matthew 5:43-48.
love your enemies
pray for those who persecute you
i find it interesting that jesus reminds us of the fact that god sees the unrighteous and
still CHOOSES to cause the sun to rise for them.
still CHOOSES to cause the rain to fall for them.
god does not choose to express his love ONLY those who love him back; god does not only reach out to greet those who are wanting to be in the family. god does reach for those who are not in his family. god clearly illustrates that he CHOOSES to love, even those who don’t choose to love him. you will never find in scripture an exception to this idea. god is always loving those, even if they choose not to love him (we can argue about what is just with love in another post).
it is hard to choose to love those who do not love back. one thing christians can do, when found in a place of fighting or resisting the choice to love, is search the heart for any areas of unforgiveness. at one point, in all our lives, we have been offended at something someone has said or done to us. christ references this in matthew 24:12. lawlessness will increase, wrongs will be committed, and in turn most people’s love will grow cold. a significant barrier to the ability to choose love is a heart that has grown cold and hard due to lawlessness or injustice committed.
before you can choose to love you must choose to forgive
ultimately what gives love its wonderfully divine power is not mutual at all, but rather, unconditional, as our heavenly father has displayed many times over. jesus described this kind of love wondering what good is it, only loving someone who loves you back?!?!
you life will be changed by choosing to love even your enemies and those who wish you harm.
love your enemies
pray for those who persecute you
i find it interesting that jesus reminds us of the fact that god sees the unrighteous and
still CHOOSES to cause the sun to rise for them.
still CHOOSES to cause the rain to fall for them.
god does not choose to express his love ONLY those who love him back; god does not only reach out to greet those who are wanting to be in the family. god does reach for those who are not in his family. god clearly illustrates that he CHOOSES to love, even those who don’t choose to love him. you will never find in scripture an exception to this idea. god is always loving those, even if they choose not to love him (we can argue about what is just with love in another post).
it is hard to choose to love those who do not love back. one thing christians can do, when found in a place of fighting or resisting the choice to love, is search the heart for any areas of unforgiveness. at one point, in all our lives, we have been offended at something someone has said or done to us. christ references this in matthew 24:12. lawlessness will increase, wrongs will be committed, and in turn most people’s love will grow cold. a significant barrier to the ability to choose love is a heart that has grown cold and hard due to lawlessness or injustice committed.before you can choose to love you must choose to forgive
ultimately what gives love its wonderfully divine power is not mutual at all, but rather, unconditional, as our heavenly father has displayed many times over. jesus described this kind of love wondering what good is it, only loving someone who loves you back?!?!
you life will be changed by choosing to love even your enemies and those who wish you harm.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
a delusional alternative
this is the crisis we are in: god-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing god. everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates god-light, won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. but anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes god-light so the work can be seen for the god work it is.
john 3:19-21
due to an overwhelming fear men and women avoid the cleansing nature of the light of god. a practitioner of evil is addicted to denial and illusion; a fantasy world, recreation, a perversion of an order god had originally intended.
the darkness has an appeal for all of us in our nature, and especially those of us who desire to practice denial and illusion. even in the darkness there can be a pretend nature that portrays a way out that doesn't involve the light of the world, jesus christ. a sort of delusional alternative to what god's word says. scripture says, however, those who embrace a life through jesus, intentionally trusting and accepting him will come to not only know the god-light but love it, appreciate it and the exposure it produces.
a practitioner of evil hates the light because it exposes them for who they are. forging then, a different path becomes more acceptable and seemingly far easier than living in truth and reality so that god can receive the glory of the exposure. darkness is deceptive because we are fooled in believing we can do what we want when we want to. those who avoid and distrust the son remain in the dark and will not see life. their experiences of the true nature of god will be shrouded with darkness, unable to see god's goodness, unless intentionally denounced. this darkness will make one angry and bitter.
welcoming and embracing jesus and all that he did for us on that cross will relieve us of a performance we are not going to be able to handle our whole life.
john 3:19-21
the darkness has an appeal for all of us in our nature, and especially those of us who desire to practice denial and illusion. even in the darkness there can be a pretend nature that portrays a way out that doesn't involve the light of the world, jesus christ. a sort of delusional alternative to what god's word says. scripture says, however, those who embrace a life through jesus, intentionally trusting and accepting him will come to not only know the god-light but love it, appreciate it and the exposure it produces.
a practitioner of evil hates the light because it exposes them for who they are. forging then, a different path becomes more acceptable and seemingly far easier than living in truth and reality so that god can receive the glory of the exposure. darkness is deceptive because we are fooled in believing we can do what we want when we want to. those who avoid and distrust the son remain in the dark and will not see life. their experiences of the true nature of god will be shrouded with darkness, unable to see god's goodness, unless intentionally denounced. this darkness will make one angry and bitter.
welcoming and embracing jesus and all that he did for us on that cross will relieve us of a performance we are not going to be able to handle our whole life.
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